MANILA (UCAN): Jeepney drivers received a reprieve after the Philippine government deferred a plan to phase out the iconic but smoke-belching public transport vehicles and replace them with modern mini-buses. The new deadline is now April 30.
On January 25, the House Committee on Transportation approved a resolution to grant an extension to jeepney drivers and operators under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernisation Program [PUVMP].
In a statement, the president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., said, “This extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressed intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off.”
Jeepney operators were earlier given until the end of 2023 to join a cooperative, which will have two to three years to replace their fleet with modern vehicles that are safer and less polluting. The consolidation or the formation of transport cooperatives or other legal entities will allow drivers and operators “to access benefits such as government subsidies and access to credit facilities, among others, to aid in modernising their fleets.”
However, there was opposition to the phase-out with operators arguing that joining a cooperative and buying a new vehicle will bury them in debt and risk their livelihood.
Jeepney operators were earlier given until the end of 2023 to join a cooperative, which will have two to three years to replace their fleet with modern vehicles that are safer and less polluting
Mody Floranda, president of the National Federation of Public Transport Associations welcomed the extension as the “initial success” of “our tireless collective action and the determination to defend our livelihood.”
He said that thousands of drivers and small operators, and even millions of commuters, will reap the benefits.
“But extension alone is not enough. Let’s continue to act until the foreign PUVMP is scrapped and fight for progressive, patriotic, and inclusive public transportation,” he added.
The jeepneys were initially made from US jeeps left after World War II and are a national symbol in the Philippines. They have served as the backbone of the country’s transport system, providing affordable rides for millions of people across the country.
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Caritas Philippines was dubious about the extension of the deadline, saying that a “patchwork solution won’t fix structural problems.”
While extending the deadline for public transport modernisation to April 30, 2024, offers a temporary reprieve, Caritas Philippines remains concerned that it merely postpones the inevitable without addressing the sector’s fundamental challenges
Jing Henderson, Caritas Philippines
Jing Henderson, head of communications and partnership development at Caritas Philippines said, “While extending the deadline for public transport modernisation to April 30, 2024, offers a temporary reprieve, Caritas Philippines remains concerned that it merely postpones the inevitable without addressing the sector’s fundamental challenges.”
Caritas Philippines urged the government to avoid postponing the problem, and instead “work together to build a sustainable, efficient, and equitable transportation system that leaves no one behind.”
Henderson advocated for investment in locally developed, renewable energy-powered vehicles, harnessing Filipino ingenuity to build a clean and green future.
She reiterated concerns about the modernisation program, citing human cost, environmental responsibility, and preserving Filipino identity.
“We urge the government to ensure fair compensation, livelihood support, and retraining programs for displaced individuals. These are not statistics, but our neighbours and fellow Filipinos,” Henderson said.
Valentino Peneda, a commuter from Leyte, in the Visayas region, said modernisation of public utility vehicles is a matter of acceptance.
“If we do not accept it, the more our country’s public utility vehicles become outdated,” the 53-year-old said.
The old jeepneys are diesel-powered, while the new public utility vehicles will be LPG-powered, electronic, and hybrid types.
The new versions will also have features like Euro-4 and PNS [Philippine National Standards] compliant engines, an automated fare collection system, and a GPS and CCTV camera.
